Shufeldt and Stem claim titles as LH Women’s Wrestling opens season in style
PRINCETON, N.J. – The Lock Haven women’s wrestling team crowned two individual champions and opened the 2022-23 season and a new era under head coach Matt Lackey with flair at the Princeton Open on Sunday.
A pair of freshmen competing for the first time as Bald Eagles both brought home titles. At 109, Kaelani Shufeldt (Huntington Beach, Calif./Marina) powered her way to the crown with a 4-0 record including two wins by tech fall. Shufeldt completed a 10-0 victory over Kaura Coles of Alavanca to complete a dominant day.
At 143, Grace Stem (Snow Shoe, Pa./Bald Eagle) was equally as impressive in her debut. She romped to a 4-0 day and the individual crown defeating each of her opponents by 10-0 tech falls including MIT’s Veloria Pannell in the championship bout.
Lily Sherer (Shohola, Pa./Delaware Valley) raced to the first-place bout at 130-pounds, behind a tech fall in the quarterfinals, but fell just short in a 2-0 decision in the championship bout. Sherer posted an impressive 3-1 record on the day.
Madison Matta (Blue Ridge, Pa./Waynesboro), Jessica Johnson (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) and Trinity Monaghan (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton) each placed fourth. Matta and Johnson both went 3-2 at 136 and 155 pounds, respectively. Monaghan was 2-2 at 191-pounds.
For first-year head coach Matt Lackey, his first ever competition saw all six of his wrestlers place, including two champions, a runner-up and four fourth-place finishes.
The Bald Eagles host East Stroudsburg in the 2022-23 home-opener on Thursday (Nov. 10). That dual meet is set for a 7 p.m. start.
